Improvement in children s convertible chairs



G. M. PATTEN,

Ghildrens Convertible Chair.

No. 207,621. Patented Sept. 3, I878.

Inventov.

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

GEORGE M. PATTEN, OF YONKERS, NEW Y ORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHILDRENS CONVERTIBLE CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,621, dated September 3, 1878 application filed February 9, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. PATTEN, of Yonkers, county of Westchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Chairs, of which the following is a specification This invention isdesigned for the use of children. It is convertible at pleasure into a childs high chair of ordinary form, or a high couch, or a low chair on wheels, or a couch on wheels. In the two latter conditions it is in efiect a carriage, and I will so designate it.

My carriage in either condition is provided with high handles at the rear analogous to those on the most approved carriages for children, which handles are formed by what in another condition serves as the rear legs of the high chair.

The device is also provided with an additional part, which may be used at will to retain the child in the chair or couch, and as a table, and which conveniently remains attached, so as not to be lost when out of use.

In the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the construction in the form of a high chair, with the table in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing it as a high reclining chair or couch, with the table thrown back out of use. Fig. 3 is a side elevation,

showing the device converted into a chair on wheels-one of the forms of my carriage-with the table in front. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, showing it as a couch on wheels, with the table entirely removed.

Similar letters of reference are employed in all the figures to identify like parts.

To the under side of the seat A are rigidly secured the parts I) of a pair of legs formed in the two parts B and b, and hinged together at the point a, so that they may be secured rigidly by the catch and spring at 0 into an upright continuous leg or support for the front of the seat A, as in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower parts B are connected together by rounds or braces d, as shown in Fig. l, at such an angle as to secure a sufficiently broad base for the seat, and also to pass outside the wheels 0 when forming a carriage. By releasing the catches at c the lower parts B may be turned back on the hinges at a at pleasure, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The wheels D are attached at the inside lower end of the upper part b of the legs B I) by brackets or hangers in such a way that they hang below the ends of the parts I) of the legs B b. The wheels D D are provided with an axle, which acts also as a round or brace for the parts I). The foot-board E is attached near the top of the legs or supports B b by swinging braces e c, pivoted to the legs atf. The headed stop-pin g is made to hold the foot-board in suitable position as a rest for the childs feet. The same pin prevents the board and brace from swinging back against the wheels D D, but leaves them free to be moved forward. Latches L are pivoted through the braces e, and pass over and around the stop-pin g, and are provided at the back end with an ofiset or catch, for a use hereinafter shown. The board M is fastened between and diagonally across the braces e, for a purpose hereinafter explained. To the seat A is also attached, by hinges at h, a second pair of legs, B, which are connected together by suitable rounds or braces, as at t', Fig. 1, at such an angle as to secure a sufficiently broad base for .the seat, and also to pass outside the back F in forming the couch or reclining-chair and carriage on wheels. The two pairs of hinged legs B B are connected together by pivoted braces or links G, pwoted at each end, as shown. By means of these braces G the pair of legs B are held rigidly in an upright position to support the rear of the seat A, 'so long as thelegs B are held by the latch and spring at c. A pair of wheels, 0, of suitable material and large size, are provided with an axle, which is connected at or near either end, by means of two sets of swinging braces, H H, with the seat A, and with the pair of legs B by pivots properly located for the purposes desired, as at l and I. On the braces G G are spring-catches m m, and on the legs B catches m, for a purpose hereinafter stated. The seat A is also provided with sides or arms I, rigidly affixed at a proper height, and with a back, F, hlngcd to the seat at the points a. The back F is connected with the rigid arms I by means of the slotted slides K, the slots in which have suitable notches or recesses, as at p, for adjusting the position of the back F. The slides K K are pivoted to the back F by screws or pins at s, passing through a hole in the slide, and are connected to the back ends of the arms I by headed pins 0 through the slot or notch.

In each of the arms I are fixed two headed pins, r and r, to secure the table T, which is supported on the slotted arms P, the pin 1" pivoting the arms through the slots, so as to allow the table,,when not desired for use, to be swung upward over the head of the child and the back, so as to hang down behind the chair, as in Fig. 2.

WVhen the table is in use the arms 1?, secured by the pins r through the slots, rest also upon the pins 1", and support the table before the arms I, as in Figs. 1 and 3. The pins r, passin g into notches in the arms I, prevent the table from being pushed forward,..and thus secure the child in the seat. The table may be removed by raising and moving it forward until the pins 1* are in the enlargement at the back of i the slots in the arms B, when the arms can be sprung off the pins.

To make the change from the high chair,

. Fig. 1, to the low seat or carriage, Fig. 3, it is necessary only to raise the springs at a, when the catches are released and the body of the structure may be moved forward and downward (turning on the foot of the legs B b as a pivot) until the wheels D rest"upon the floor. The legs B B, tied together by the links G, are by this movement turned backward and upward, and the spring-catch m, engaging the catch m, fixes the legs and wheels in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the legs B form suitable handles for the carriage. At the same time the wheels 0 swing backward, turning .on the pivot c as a center, until they assume a position sufficiently far to the rear. The chair has now become a low carriage, and the position of the firmly-supported wheels 0 allows it to be tipped back, thus resting the weight wholly on these wheels to allow of easy turning when required. The construction also allows it again to be safely tilted forward, so that the carriage may be readilymade to bridge or jump any obstacles, as a curb-stone or step.

To convert the carriage into a high chair, it is only necessary to release the springs m from the catches m m and raise the seat from the floor, when the weight of the parts will cause them to reverse the motions just described and assume their position for the high chair, as in Fig. l, securing themselves at full height by means of the springs and catches c.

To form a reclining-chair or couch in connection with either the high or low seat, the slotted pieces K are raised at the front end until the pin 0, Figs. 2 and 4, at the back end is disengaged from the recess and enters the slot. The back F may now be turned on the hinges at 02. until the pins 0 engage in any notches desired and provided, as at a in Fig. 1, or until the ends of the slots reach the pins 0. The foot-board E may then be raised until the notches or offsets in the latches L L engage on the pins 9, and secure the brace c and the foot-board E in the raised position, when the top of the partM is brought near the front edge of the seat A. The part M, with the seat A and the back F, completes the bed of the couch, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

When the foot-board is in this raised position it acts also in a great degree as a detent to retain the child in the seat, so that the use of the table for that purpose may be more safely dispensed with.

To change the couch back into the ordinary seat, it is but necessary to raise the back F until the pins 0 re-engage in the recesses or notches P of the slotted pieces K, as shown in Fig. 2, and to raise the latches L L, when the foot-board will fall to its original position.

The chair may be provided with ordinary casters or not, attached to the ends of the legs B B.

All the metal parts are simple in form and manufacture. The wooden parts may all be made of straight pieces, cut with the grain of the wood. if desired. With such pieces the proper form and broad base are secured, which,

in many other chairs of this description, have to be attained by cutting or bending the wood across the grain. It is also quite ornate.

The success of the invention does not depend on making the catches m m to engage automatically. I have, in my experiments, used a form of catch which requires engagement with the fingers.

There may be any convenient catch or hook to hold the parts B up near the arm I, and consequently all the other parts firmly in the position for use as a carriage.

I claim as my invention 1'. In a convertible chair and carriage, the combination, with the hinged portions B, of the front legs, hinged rear legs B, and pivoted braces G G, whereby the legs are simultaneousl y operated in converting the chair into a carriage, or vice versa, as herein specified.

2. In a convertible chair and carriage, the rear legs B of the chair, hinged at their upper ends directly to the seat A, so that they may be reversed when the chair is changed to a carriage, the lower ends of the legs being turned up and the legs fastened in a nearly vertical position to form handles, substantially as and for the purposes as described.

3. In combination with the chair-body, the hinged rear legs B and braces H H, connected respectively to the chair body and legs, serving as a support for the rear wheel 0, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the chair-body, the front legs I) B, braces G G, rear legs B, braces H H, and wheels 0, substantially as described.

5. In a convertible chair, the combination legs B, pivoted braces H H and Wheels 0, of the hinged portions B of the front legs, substantially as described. pivoted braces G G, and hinged rear legs B, In testimony that I claim the foregoing I said rear legs being provided with suitable dehave hereunto set my hand and seal. vice for retaining the said legs in their elevated GEORGE M. PATTEN. [L. s.]

position, substantially as set forth. Witnesses:

6. The combination of the chair-seat A, front S. M. RICE legs I) B, wheels D, braces G G, hinged rear G. H. RICE. 

